Portable flash-light.



H. H. & H. T. HIPWELL. PORTABLE FLASH LIGHT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1915.

Patented Junev 22, 1915.

Inventor.;

Attorneys aan rica.

HARRY H. HIPWELL AND HARRY T. HHWELL, OE Hs'tSURGH, PENNSYLVANIA! roRTABLE msn-mente'.

speemcauoii i Letteren f Application inea Marenga, 191s. sensi N6. 16,968.

Maasai.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, HARRY H. and HARRY T. HIPWELL, citizens of the United States, residing at N. S. Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Porta-ble Flash-Light, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a portable flash light, and aims to provide a portable Hash light of such formation that it may be conveniently carried in the vest 0r coat pocket, the flash light simulating a fountain pen or pencil in contour, whereby it may be conveniently carried and handled.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a pocket flash light having improved details of construction, to enhance the utility and efficiency thereof, and which is particularly useful in view of the pencil or fountain pen formation of the case.

Among its specific objects, the invention aims to provide novel circuit controlling means, novel means for insulating the battery, and novel means for holding the sections or parts of the case assembled so that they may be slid or moved relative to one another for controlling the circuit.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a pocket Hash light having the above mentioned features, and which is comparatively simple. and inexpensive of construction, as well as being serviceable, convenient, practical and eiiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view iwhich will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved flash light. VFig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional -views taken on the lines 3--3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention, the case embodies a metallic tube or barrel 1, into which the battery or cell 2 is slipped so as to fit snugly therein. One end of the tube or fratenteu June 2e, isis.

barrel-1" is-spovided with a narrow inturned annular flip 6r flange 3, and an annular insulator 4listted Within the said end portion of the tube l and seats against the lip 3. The overlaps the insulator 4 so as to terminate vshort of the central aperture or opening of the insulator, and the central terminal or pole member5 of the battery or cell 2 projectsinto or partially through the central aperture or opening of the insulator 4. This insulator 4 bears against the lip 3, while the 'respective end of thev battery or cell 2 bears against the insulator 4, it being noted that the insulator 4 insulates the central terminal'or pole member 5 of the battery from the tube l, and especially the lip 3 thereof.

A detachable plug V6 is engaged within the other end of the tube 1, and carries a spiral spring 8 which has its larger convolution secured within the plug 6, and which has its smaller convolution bearing against the respective end of the battery 2 to press the battery 2 yieldably against the insulator 4, and whereby the battery is held in place. The spring 7 also acts as a conductor for electrically connecting the shell or other pole member ofthe battery 2 with the tube 1 of the case, the spring 7 and plug 6 being metallic. The plug 6 is provided with lugs 8 engaged in bayonet slots 9 provided in the respective end portion of the tube 1, whereby the plug 6 may be locked in engagement with the tube, and may be readily attached to and detached from the tube. When the plug 6 is removed, the battery 2 may be readily withdrawn for purpose of renewing or replacing the same when Worn out.

The case embodies a second sectlon or part which is in the form of a metallic sleeve 10 sliding or telescopedr over the end portlon of the tube 1 having the lip 3. The tube 1 resembles the barrel of a fountain pen or pencil,while the sleeve 10 resembles the cap of a fountain pen or pencil, whereby the case will have the appearance of a fountain pen or pencil, and may be convemently carried in the coat or vest pocket, or the like.

A clip 11 is riveted or otherwlse secured, as at 12, to one side of the sleeve or cap 10 and projects toward the remote end of the tube 1. This clip 11 resembles the clip of a fountain pen or pencil, whereby the clip 11 may be engaged over the edgeporti'onbf the pocket in which the Hash llght 1s 1nserted and so that the device may be con- The tube 1 and sleeve 10, or the sectionsof the case, are provided with interengaging means for limiting the sliding movement of the sleeve or cap 10 upon the tube 1, and to this end,' the sleeve 10 is provided underneath the clip 11,- with an instruck resilient tongue 13 projecting toward lthe end of the tube 1 having the lip 3, and the tube 1 1 's provided within the sleeve 10 with a longitudinal slot 14 receiving the free portion of the tongue 13, The slot 14 is of limited 'length to limitlthe sliding or longitudinal movement of the sleeve 10.

The outer or free end of the sleeve 10 t is provided with a dished reflector 15 which is plated or polished, and which 'is p rovided with a central inwardly proJectlng threaded socket portion 16 for receivin the threaded plug 17 of an incandescent amp 18. The globe 19 of the lamp 18 is disposed within the reiiector 15. The incandescent lamp is thus carried by the end of the case, or by the end of the sleeve or cap 10 which is mounted slidably upon the tube 1.

The sliding movement of the sleeve 10 upon the tube l is utilized for controllingl 'the circuit, the insulated terminal or contact member 2O of the lamp 18 projecting inwardly and being in alinement with the terminal or pole member 5 of the battery whereby when the sleeve orv cap 10 is slid downwardly upon the tube 1, the terminal or contact member 2O of the lamp is brought into engagement with the terminal or polev member 5 of the battery, for closing the circuit through the lamp 18, case `101, and

spring 7 to the opposite pole of the battery.

The circuit is normally opened by means of a coiled wire expansion spring 21 disposed within the-sleeve or cap 10 between the lip 3 and insulator 4 and the annular socket between the walls of the sleeve 10 and reflector 15. When the sleeve 10 is released, the spring 21 will throw the same outwardly or upwardly to open the circuit.'

The present Hash light'may be conveniently carried in the pocket or similar rewith the battery. l the flash light, may be readily assembled.

ceptacle,v and may be conveniently manipujlated. To light-the lamp, it is only necessary to slide the sleeve or cap 10 downwardly or inwardly upon the tube or barrel 1, which,w1llbrin`lthe lamp into contact e component parts of Thus, the insulator 4 may be readily slipped into the tube'l from that end opposite the lip 3, 'when the battery 2 and plug- 6 are removed, and the battery 2 then being inserted into the tube 1, will force the insulator 4 into position, and the insulator will Aalso receive the terminal or pole member 5 of the battery for insulating the same from the case. `The spring 21 may be readily inserted into the sleeve or cap 10 when the same is detached from the tube 1- and it is to be noted that when the cap 10 1s forcibly slid upon the tube 1, the tongue 13 will spring outwardly to allow the sleeve to be moved into position, and when the sleeve ,is moved into proper osition, the tongue 13 will spring into the s ot 14 for limitmg the longitudinal movement of the sleeve 10 and tube 1 relative to one another. 4'lhe sleeve or cap-10 may be removed, this being readily accomplished by forcing the sleeve 10 and tube 1 together and turning the same relative to one another whereby the tongue 13 is sprung outward out of engagement with the slot 14, and in which Vevent the sleeve and tube may be readily separated. It is to be noted that the tongue or member 13 of the cap 10 which engages the slot 14 of the tube 1, is located'underneath the clip 11 so as to be concealed thereby, in order that `the tongue 13 will not impair the appearance of the flash light, and cannot be readilydetected'. It is preferable to provide the inner end portion of the sleeve or-cap 10v with one or more annular knurled corrugations or beads 22 whereby the sleeve or cap may be readily slid downwardly or in-' wardly before closing the circuit.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 1. A portable iiash light embodying a tube for holding a battery, a sleeve slidable upon one end portion of the tube and having means at its outer end lfor receiving an incandescent lamp, whereby when the sleeve is slid inwardly it will bring the lamp into engagement with the batteryga clip secured to the sleeve for engaging the edge portion of a pocket, the tube having a longitudinal slot of limited length, and the sleeve having means underneath and concealed by the clip engaging said slot for limiting the movement of the sleeve relative to the tube.

longitudinal slot and the sleeve having av portion working in said slot,vand means for ,vielda'bly` moving the sleeve outward rela-l tive to the tube fordisengaging the' lamp from the respective pole ofthe battery.

3. A portable Hash light comprising acas` ing embodying a tube and a sleeve slidable upon one end portionthereof, the tube be, ing adapted to hold a batter said end of the tube having an inturne the outer end of the sleeve having means for receiving an incandescent lam whereby when the ysleeve is moved inwar y it will bring the lamp into engagement with said pole member. 'l v 4. 'A portable iiash light comprising a metallic casing including a tube and sleeve slidable upon one end portion ofthe tube, said end of the tube having an .inturned annlar lip, an annular insulator ittin within the tube and seating against sai lip, a

20 battery `fitting within the tube and having annular lip,j an annular insulator fitting withinthe tube and seating against said lip, and adapted to.` receive one pole member of the battery, and,

one pole connected the casing, the battery having another pole member tting within having a lamp socket, a lamp engaged in said socket and arranged to contact with said pole member when the sleeve is moved4 inwardly to establish a circuit through the lamp, and -a spring within the sleeve for yieldably moving the same outward to disengage the lamp from said pole member.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aiiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY H; HIPWELL. HARRY T. HIP WELL. Witnesses:

. LANG,

C. COLEMAN. 

